A SCHEME FOR UNIVERSALISATION OF ACCESS TO AND
IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY AT THE SECONDARY STAGE

1.1.1. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RSMA) is aimed at expanding and improving the standards of secondary education — classes VIII to X. The RSMA would also take secondary education to every corner of the country by ensuring a secondary school (up to class X) within a radius of 5km for every neighbourhood. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) which is the most recent initiative of Government of India to achieve the goal of universalisation of secondary education (USE).
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan program set up by the government to bring elementary education to millions of children has been successful to a large extent, and has thus created a need for strengthening secondary education infrastructure across the country. The HRD Ministry has taken note of this, and now plans to implement a secondary education scheme called Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) during the 11th plan at a total cost of Rs.20,120 crore.
“With the successful implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a large number of students are passing out from upper primary classes creating a huge demand for secondary education,” the HRD Ministry said.

1.1.2. The population of the age group 14-18 was 8.55 crore in 2001 as per census
data. The estimated population of this age group as on 1.3.2005 was 9.48 crore,
which is likely to increase to 9.69 crore as on 1.3.2007 i.e., at the beginning of the
11th Five Year Plan. This is likely to stabilize at around 9.70 crore in 2011. The
Gross Enrolment Ratio for classes IX-XII in 2005-06 was 40.49%. The figure for
classes IX and X was 52.26 % whereas that for classes XI and XII was 28.54%.

1.1.3. With the liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy, the rapid
changes witnessed in scientific and technological world and the general need to
improve the quality of life and to reduce poverty, it is essential that school leavers
acquire a higher level of knowledge and skills than what they are provided in the 8
years of elementary education, particularly when the average earning of a secondary
school certificate holder is significantly higher than that of a person who has studied
only up to class VIII. It is also necessary that besides general education up to
secondary level, opportunities for improvement of vocational knowledge and skill
should be provided at the higher secondary level to enable some students to be
employable.

1.1.4. Since universalisation of elementary education has become a Constitutional
mandate, it is absolutely essential to push this vision forward to move towards
Universalisation of secondary education, which has already been achieved in a large
number of developed countries and several developing countries. Paras 5.13 – 5.15
of the National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986 (as modified in 1992) deal with
Secondary Education. Para 5.13 of the NPE, inter- alia, stated that “Access to
Secondary Education will be widened with emphasis on enrolment of girls, SCs and
STs, particularly in science, commerce and vocational stream. Vocationalization through specialized institutions or through the re-fashioning of
secondary education will, at this stage, provide valuable manpower for economic
growth.

1.1.5.Hon’ble Prime Minister in his Independence Day Speech, 2007 has inter-alia
stated that,
“We are setting out a goal of universalizing secondary education. This is clearly the
nest step after universalizing elementary education. While the goal is laudable much
work needs to be done before we are in a position to launch the Scheme for
Universalisation of Access for Secondary Education (SUCCESS). Its details need to
be quickly spelt out and discussed with States so that we are fully ready to launch it
from 2008-09. We must not underestimate the complexity of this task as the
principles for universalizing elementary education cannot be easily transferred to
secondary education. The physical, financial, pedagogical and human resource
needs are quite different. We also need to recognize the role currently being played
by the private sector and policy design must factor this in. Detailed strategies and
plans would need to be worked out rapidly for each state. Special attention would
need to be paid to Districts with SC/ST/OBC/Minority concentration. The
recommendations of the Sachar Committee need to be seriously considered while
planning for this programme”.

1.1.6. The Tenth Plan Mid-Term Appraisal (MTA) document of the Planning
Commission has also, inter alia, recommended as follows:
“In order to plan for a major expansion of secondary education in the event
of achievement of full or near full retention under SSA, setting up of a new Mission
for Secondary Education, on the lines of SSA, should be considered.”

1.1.7. Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) is the highest deliberative and
advisory forum on Education in the country with Education Ministers of all States
and eminent educationists as its Members. It was re-constituted and activated in
mid-2004 after a gap of several years. After deliberations in the first meeting of the
re-constituted CABE, held in August, 2005, seven Committees of CABE were
constituted in September, 2005, two of which were particularly relevant for
Secondary Education.

1.1.8. Besides the Committee on Universalisation of Secondary Education, CABE
had also, at the same time, set up another Committee on “Girls’ Education &
Common School System” under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Assam.
Report of this Committee was also presented in June, 2005. The Committee has
recommended, inter alia, that:

a. “….. making good quality education available to all students in all schools
at affordable fees is a primary commitment of the Common School
System”,

b. State should invest in public schools system with standards, norms,
building, etc., with the same standards as that of Kendriya Vidyalayas.

1.1.9. Reports of both the above CABE Committees were discussed and generally
endorsed in the meeting of CABE held on July 14-15, 2005.

1.1.10. It is well recognized that eight years of education are insufficient to equip a
child for the world of work as also to be a competent adult and citizen. The pressure
on Secondary Education is already being felt due to the success of Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan. Therefore, while secondary education is not constitutionally compulsory,
it is necessary and desirable that access to secondary education is universalized
leading to enhanced participation, and its quality is improved for all. At the same
time, it may not be possible to fully universalize education at the secondary stage
during the Eleventh Five Year Plan as the drop out rates are as high as 28.49% from
classes I-V and 50.39% from classes I-VIII. However, with rising expectation from
improved access to secondary education, retention in classes I-VIII will further
improve.